“Whine and pout, scream and shout, kick those nasty troubles out!”
Children kicking and screaming for apparently no reason at home or public places such as supermarkets and trains are a common sight. As a parent, not knowing how to deal with this can prove to be quite stressful.
The first step towards handling this is to understand what is happening with your child. Understanding the difference between a meltdown and a tantrum is the key to supporting the child through the outburst since they may look similar but are in fact very different.
In this article, we will cover the differences between meltdowns and tantrums.
(Click to read the section.)
A meltdown is a result of sensory overload. It is a result of processing too much sensory information. Sensory information includes noise, light, touch, etc. It confuses and frightens children and eventually, results in a meltdown. A meltdown will subside slowly as the overwhelming stimulus is removed from the child’s environment.
Here are a few possible triggers for a sensory meltdown as detailed in the book Managing Meltdowns and Tantrums on the Autism Spectrum; A Parent and Caregiver’s Guide.:
Throwing a tantrum is a child’s way of expressing frustration. It is often a result of their inability to express their needs or wants. It has a behavioural component to it and is not just a sensory reaction, unlike a meltdown. The book The Tantrum Survival Guide suggests that multiple factors are responsible for a tantrum.
The book also lists a few common causes of tantrums:
Here are a few key differences between a meltdown and a tantrum.
It is difficult to remain calm when your child is struggling with big emotions. The key here is to remain calm and assess whether it is a tantrum or a meltdown to help them through this. The quickest way to manage a tantrum is to acknowledge the child’s emotions without actually giving in to their demands whereas to manage a meltdown you must take the child to a quiet, safe place and allow them to calm down.
Have you tried these strategies before? How was your experience of using them? Do let us know in the comments below.
“Me-kha-la!” That happens at least once when she introduces herself to new people. She wholeheartedly believes in the quote by Arthur Rubinstein that says – “if you love life, life will love you back”. She is an organizational psychologist and psychometrician. She was a class teacher of 36 adorable girls for two years, grades 2 & 3, as a part of the Teach For India Fellowship. These little girls have a special place in her heart, and when she writes for children, she writes for them!
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